ALMOST half the workers at the plant that recycles Kirklees’ waste could be made redundant.

Sita Kirklees has confirmed it plans to slash the workforce at its Hillhouse plant amid a 60% reduction in hours.

The Examiner understands that 23 of its 48-strong workforce are under threat of losing their jobs as bosses consider transferring work to a plant in Northumberland.

The company has said it plans to cut work at the Vine Street plant from two 48-hour shifts per week to one 40-hour shift.

A spokesman for Sita Kirklees said the plan to scale-back the materials recycling operations would not affect the work the company does for Kirklees Council.

The plan was first rumoured in January when the company announced it was reviewing its operating costs.

Following the review it has now identified potential savings by shifting work to West Sleekburn, north of Newcastle.

Mick Hewitt from the Unite union said the proposal meant 15,000 tonnes of green waste would be shipped 135 miles to the North East.

And he said staff who kept their jobs faced the prospect of their pay being slashed by between 30% and 40%.

He said: “This plan comes in the same month that Sita published a report that says in the next few years up to 84,000 jobs could be created in the circular economy.

“Sita Kirklees spent about a £1m upgrading the Kirklees facility two years ago and although it is making money, it is not making enough for the company.

“Most of the workers under threat are young and unskilled so more young workers could be left on the scrap heap – at what cost to Kirklees taxpayers.

“To take the extra 15,000 tonnes, West Sleekburn will have to take on another shift.

“So West Sleekburn taxpayers will benefit from Kirklees taxpayers’ green waste.”

John Grainger, SITA UK general manager, said: “Like any organisation in the current economic climate, it’s necessary for us to examine our operations and practices to ensure we’re delivering the best deal for our client and the residents they serve.

“SITA UK will be meeting with unions and its employees to begin consultation on proposals to transfer some operations to a modern materials recycling facility in the North East and scale-back operations at the Hillhouse site from two weekly 48-hour shifts to one 40-hour shift per week.

“Further options are being considered and we are now entering a period of consultation with our employees and unions to minimise the impact of these proposed changes on jobs.”

Sita UK signed a 25-year contract to recycle Kirklees’ waste in 1998.

Along with the Hillhouse plant, the company took over the council’s five household tip sites and its Spen Valley transfer station, which was replaced by the Thornhill transfer station in 2001.

Its energy-from-waste centre in Vine Street processes 136,000 tonnes of waste, generating 10MW of electricity, enough to supply the annual electricity for 15,000 homes.